Help Needed on Switching from PAYG to DD and a standard meter

borama

Hello


6 weeks ago I moved into a rented property and inherited PAYG traditional meters and there was an existing debt on the gas meter from the previous tenant. The energy supplier is Ovo/Boost.....
6 weeks later, I have had two new meters installed, several failed gas cards, hours of phone calls, inconvenience payments, repeated visits from engineers to either install a new gas meter or put on emergency credit and general, what appears to be incompetance and I've had enough. Especially, as all this has been happening while I am grieving for my partner who died at New Year and moving in and decorating a new rented house because his family made me homeless. (just telling you this for full context)


Anyway, I would really appreciate some advice as I just want to switch to a utility company that will replace the prepayment meters with traditional/standard meters, for free ideally, and return to paying for my energy via direct debit.


Trying to search for this only brings up results relating to 'smart' meters, which neither I or my landlord wants. And I simply don't have the time or energy to be calling round various suppliers etc. So any recommendations would be welcome. Ideally I'd like a renewable energy supplier, but if it means I'll get out of my current nightmare quickly, I'm willing to consider all types.


Many thanks

Will_S98

Hi,
If your still looking to change the meters then i would advise to contact EDF or Shell energy. Edf will removed the meters free of charge but i think you would have to get your current supplier to turn off the smart mode as EDF dont acept/switch smart pre payment meters.
Or alternativley you could contact Shell energy ( formerly first utility) they again would change the meters free of charge but only if you pass a credit check, and all the tariffs they offer are renewable. Hope this helps

[Deleted User]

Odd why Ovo just did nt put one of their usual smart prepayment meters in .They have been using these for years and were one of the first to install smart prepays where you can take your choice, prepay or credit..Achieved with remote switching.
I would expect all suppliers now only to be fitting smart prepayment meters, which can be used as credit meters .so much more convenient. The days of traipsing down to a Paypoint shop with a key or a card, should now be over..and about time too.
Check prepay rates against a suppliers standard variable, they could be cheaper with PAYG.
Or consider switching to a more enlightened supplier such as Bulb who don t charge any more for prepay..same low tariff for both payg and credit

Billco_2

I also had a similar situation where I desperately wanted to get away from our prepay gas meter. The smartest solution that I could find was switch to a supplier that would fit smart meters, then you can just make a phone call to change it over.

However, scottish power stuffed me over royally after promising originally to get a smart meter installed within 4 weeks, nearly 6 months later they finally turned up and the engineer only fitted the electric because he didn't have the serial number for the gas.

Then, after some 50 phone calls, I eventually got told, well we don't do single meter fittings so your basically out of luck.

Recently I switched to Utility Warehouse, soon as the switch took place, made one phone call and paid 100 pound deposit which you get back after a year, and the meters were fitted within the week.

BUT, there's quite a bit of negativity on here about UW that I have yet had experience of, but I would definitely suggest doing your research before you go with them.